Window fire escape



J. F.GAKEN WINDOW FIRE ESCAPE Filed Sept Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT J'OZEF FRANK GAKEN, OF DUNKIRK, NEW YQRK, ASSIGNOR F ONE-THIRD 'IO LAWRENCE KUZDIAL, 0F DUNKIRK, NEW YORK.

wmnow r131 ESCAPE.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J oznr FRANK GAKEN, a citizen of Poland, residing at Dunkirk, county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Window Fire Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a cheap, simple and portable fire escape,

.=' which, until used may be conveniently stored in a room.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fire escape which can be placed in a'moment, if the necessity arises, on a window sill.

A. further object of the invention isv the provision of a fire escape which can be lowered by the person trying to escape from a burning building, whereby means are provided for automatically braking the descent of the person.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combinations of parts and arrangement of elements, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of my invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved fire escape constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a window, the sill of which is equipped with my improved fire escape.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the fire escape on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the fire escape in its position of rest.

In a frame composed of parallel side bars and 11, and end bars 12, 13, a roller 14 is journaled in the end bars 12 and 13, and to this roller are secured the ends of a rope ladder 15 of suitable length to reach the ground. The lateral oscillations of the ladder are limited by stop pins 16 on the upper edge of the bar 11 which will come in touch with the side ropes of the ladder 15 if the ladder is laterally displaced during the descent of a person. I

In order to compensate for the weight of the person during the descent, a strong spring 17 is secured with one end to drum 18 and coiled around said drum which is re. tatably secured in a bracket 19 attached to the inner face of side bar 10, and the free end of this spring is adapted to coil itself around the roller 14 to which it is secured, during the descent of a person.

As will be apparent from the above description thedevice operates in the followmg manner:

In case of fire, the person trying to escape from the fire will place the frame upon the sill of a window in the manner illustrated in Figure 2, where it is seen that the inner faces of the ends of bar 11 will engage the outer face of the window frame, while the inner faces of the ends of the bar 10 engage the inner face of the window frame so that the device is firmly held on the sill. After uncoiling part of the ladder, which in its normal state is coiled around the roller 1 1, as indicated at 20 with the outer ends of its end bar 21 resting against the pins 16, the person trying to escape steps on the bar 21 and grips the lateral ropes of the ladder with his hands. The slowly-uncoiling spring 17 will ensure the slow descent as it is selected of suitable stren th.

It will be clear that changes may be made in the general arrangement and construction of the minor details of my invention without deviating from the spirit and scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A fire escape of the class described comprising a frame composed of pairwise arranged parallel side and end bars, a central roller journaled in said end bars, the inner faces of said side bars extended beyond the said end bars adapted to engage the window frame when the frame is placed on a window sill, a rope ladder secured at one end to'said roller, a pair of pins in one of said side bars to limit the lateral movements of said rope ladder when uncoiled for the descent of a person, the last bar of said ladder having ends projecting beyond the lateral ladder ropes and adapted to engage the said pins when the ladder is wound upon said roller, and means for counterbalancin the weight of a person descending with said ladder.

2. A lire escape of the class described comprising a frame composed of pairwise arranged parallel side and end bars, a central roller journaled in said end bars, the inner faces of said side bars extended beyond the said end bars adaptladder is Wound upon said roller, and a ed to engage the Window frame When the bracket secured to the inner face of one of frame is placed on a Window sill, a rope the side bars, a drum on said bracket a ladder secured at one end to said roller, a strong spring coiled around said drum and 0 pair of pins in one of said side bars to limit secured to said roller for counterbalaneing the lateral movements of said rope ladder the Weight of a person descending with the When unuoiled for the descent of a person, ladder. the last bar of said ladder having ends pro- In testimony whereof I have aflixed my jet-ting beyond the lateral ladder ropes and signature. 10 adapted to engage the said pins When the J. FRANK GAKEN. 

